City denied funds to combat homelessness

First time Amarillo agencies haven't received federal or state resources

Posted: Sunday, June 18, 2006

Joe Chapmanjoe.chapman@amarillo.com

Amarillo's campaign against homelessness took a $169,000 hit two weeks ago, when the state denied federal funding for eight agencies that subcontract with the city.

The agencies include Family Support Services, the Salvation Army, Tyler Street Resource Center, Faith City Mission, Another Chance House & Dwelling Place, ABBA House, Martha's Home and City of Refuge.

Through the city, the agencies apply for federal emergency shelter grants to cover a portion of the budgets for providing homeless services as well as basic operating expenses.

The funding comes either from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or from the state.

Last year, based on a formula that considers population, growth, housing stock and income levels, the city lost its eligibility for Housing and Urban Development funds, leaving the city and agencies with the only option of state emergency shelter grants.

Last year, the city received $141,000 in emergency shelter grants through the state. This year, for the first time, it didn't receive funds from either source.

"It's just a difficult time in history for every social service agency that provides any kind of assistance to the needy," said Janet Luman, development director for the Salvation Army. "The money's harder to come by, and there's more communities competing for the money."

The emergency shelter grant cuts forced agencies to look for other funding and find ways to stretch the resources they have.

Family Support Services, for instance, may have to limit how much free child care it provides homeless clients if it can't replace the lost funding, director Christine Nusser said.

"There's a perception that because we're a relatively larger agency and have a large budget, these things don't hurt," Nusser said. "But the fact of the matter is, we have $2 million come in, and we have $2 million go out. There is no fat in what we do."

The Salvation Army depended on the emergency shelter grants to pay for about half of its homeless prevention program. It assists people on the verge of homelessness with rent and utility payments.

"It's really to help them climb out of the desperation of not being able to meet month-to-month (expenses)," Luman said.

The emergency shelter grant cuts are felt the most acutely by smaller agencies. At Martha's Home, which operates two shelters for homeless women and children, the cuts amounted to a 10 percent budget cutback. Martha's Home will work with other Amarillo shelters to write grants and seek other funding, director Melissa Chapman said.

Todd Steelman, who came to work for the city as community development director a year ago, said he has been impressed by how well the Amarillo agencies that serve the homeless work together.

"We're all very hopeful," Chapman said. "Martha's Home has been here 19 years, and we've always kept the doors open somehow."